Withthathemountedandturnedaway。Ellencalledoutforhimtotakehishorse。Hedidnotstopnorlookback。Shecalledagain，buthervoicewasfainter，andIsbelwasnowleavingatatrot。Slowlyshesaggedagainstthetree，lowerandlower。Heheadedintothetrailleadingupthecanyon。HowstrangeareliefEllenfelt！Shewatchedhimrideintotheaspensandstartuptheslope，atlasttodisappearinthepines。Itseemedatthemomentthathetookwithhimsomethingwhichhadbeenhers。Apaininherheaddulledthethoughtsthatwaveredtoandfro。Afterhehadgoneshecouldnotseesowell。
Hereyesweretired。Whathadhappenedtoher？Therewasbloodonherhands。Isbel’sblood！Sheshuddered。Wasitanomen？Lowershesankagainstthetreeandclosedhereyes。
OldJohnSpraguedidnotreturn。Hoursdraggedby——darkhoursforEllenJorthlyingprostratebesidethetree，hidingtheblueskyandgoldensunlightfromhereyes。Atlengththelethargyofdespair，theblackdullmiseryworeaway;andshegraduallyreturnedtoaconditionofcoherentthought。
Whathadshelearned？Sightoftheblackhorsegrazingnearseemedtopromptthetrenchantreplies。SpadesbelongedtoJeanIsbel。Hehadbeenstolenbyherfatherorbyoneofherfather’saccomplices。
Isbel’svauntedcunningasatrackerhadbeennoidleboast。Herfatherwasahorsethief，arustler，asheepmanonlyasablind，aconsortofDaggs，leaderoftheHashKnifeGang。Ellenwellrememberedtheillreputeofthatgang，waybackinTexas，yearsago。